Coin-controlled machine



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I. RICHARDSON. COIN CONTROLLED MACHINE.

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COIN CONTROLLED MAGHINE.

No. 527,886. 77 Patented Oct. 23, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT 1 FFICE.

ISAAC RICHARDSON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

COIN-CONTROLLED MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 527,886, dated October23, 1894.

Application filed January 22,1894. Serial No. 97,608- (No model.)

To 00% whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, ISAAC RICHARDSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, county of Ouyahoga, State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Machines, ofwhich the following, with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates to machines into which a coin of some denominationis dropped through a slot to set in motion mechanism with a view toaccomplishing some desired purpose, particularly to a class of coincontrolled machines in which electrical connection is made for somedesired purpose.

The object of my invention is a construction which dispenses with theemployment of springs and clock work as the actuating mechanism, and thesubstitution therefor of a balance cylinder with simple connections; andthe invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinationof parts described herein and defined in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective of my invention connectedwith an electroinduction coil and a dry cell. Fig. 2 is a front view ofthe same with a fragmental section of the cover of the closing caseshown, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4C is a verticalsection illustrating the position of the rotatable cylinder immediatelyafter the coin shall have been dropped into the machine, and Fig. 5 is aside elevation illustrating the position of the parts after a completedoperation of the machine; and Fig. 6 is a cross-section of Fig. 4 on aline above the pivoted point of the trip cylinder. Fig. 7 illustratesthe swinging levers. Fig. 8 illustrates the swinging trips, and Fig. 9is a plan of the trip cylinder adjustable slides.

In the different figures of the drawings like reference-figures refer tolike parts.

In Figs. 1,2 and 3, the inclosing case, or housing of the machine, isshown in the dotted outline, a broken section of the top of theinclosing case being shown in full lines in Figs. 2 and 3 for thepurpose of illustrating the position of the slot through which coin isdropped into the machine.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I have shown a dry battery cell, 1, and a smallinduction coil, 2, which are of the usual construction and need nodescription. 2 and 2+ are two wires connected with the negative andpositive poles of the battery, and are supplied with handles, 3- and3+,for grasping in the hands. The dry cell, 1, is connected with theinduction coil 2 by means of the connections 4+ and 4, one of which isattached to the plate 5 that rests upon the floor 6, and the other ofwhich is attached to the pole 2 of the induction coil. The wire, 7,connects the induction coil with the plate 8 which is attached to thefloor 6; and two vertical rods, 9 and 9', are attached to the plates 5and 8. The circuit is opened and closed by connecting the wires 9 and9', as hereinafter described.

I will now describe my invention.

10, 10 are two vertical supports attached to the floor 6 for the purposeof supporting the operative mechanism of my machine. Between said twosupports 10 and 10 is swung what, for convenience,I term atrip-cylinder, 11. This trip-cylinder is supported by means of rods, 11and 11 which pass through bearings in the supports 10 and 10 The rods 11and 11 are attached to the cylinder 11 off its center so that by gravitythe cylinder will stand approximately in some one-of the positionsillustrated when not in movement after the dropping of a coin into themachine. To the outside of the supports 10 and 10*, upon the rods 11 and11 are placed keepers, 12 and 12 to prevent lateral motion of thecylinder. Upon the outer end of the rod 11 is formed or fixed arectangular frame 11,

which is of greater width than the distance rod, 11, projects from theupper side of the cylinder at its middle part in the circular line withthe axle rods 11 and 11*, said b lance rod 11 being threaded at itsouter end;

balance or counter-weight to the cylinder 11, and can be adjusted byscrewing the weight 11 out or in upon the rod 11. Inside of the cylinder11 is fitted an hour-glass 13, which is shorter than the cylinder 11. Byhaving the hour-glass 13 shorter than the cylinder 11, cups, 11 and 11are formed at the ends of the cylinder for the purpose of catching coindropped into the machine. The hour-glass and the cylinder are of verylight construction so as to reduce the weight of these two elements to aminimum. The amount of sand put into the hour-glass is regulated tooccupy as many minutes as desired in running, say three, or five, orten, or fifteen minutes. At the outer ends of the cylinder 11, to what Icall the under side, are attached adjustable slides 1 1 and 14, for thepurpose of increasing or shortening the length of the cylinder in orderthat the machine may be adapted to be operated by the reception of coinsof different denominations, forinstance,the penny, nickel, dime, due.The slides 14; and 14 are adjustable upon the cylinder 11 by means ofthe screws 15 and 15 which pass through the slot 14) into the cylinder,as illustrated.

The chute, 16, is carried at the top of the supports 10 and 10, asillustrated. The bar, 17, passes through the chute 16 and the supports10 and 10 near the lower portion of the chute and midway between its twoends; and two bars, 18 and 18, pass through the chute 16 and thesupports 10 and 10 above the bar 17, and at approximately equaldistances to the right and left of a vertical line with said bar 17.Within the chute 16 is placed a coin guide, 19, of the form illustratedin Fig. 1, the coin guide being approximately of aY-shape. At thejunction of the wings 19 and19 with the body 19 of the coin guide isformed a hub, 19, through which the bar 17 passes,the bar 17 forming anaxle upon which the coin guide rocks or swings. The rods 18 and 18 thatpass through the top of the chute 16 limit the throw of the coin guidein its rocking movement. From the upper end of the body 19 of the coinguide projects laterally a rod 26, as shown. Upon the rod 18 is hung aswinging lever 21, and upon the rod 18 is hung a swinging lever 22. Thelower ends of the swinging levers 21 and 22 carry rings or loops 21 and22. The construction of the swinging levers 21 and 22 illustrated isthat of wires having coils, 21 and 22 at their center for the purpose offorming bearings for the rods 18 and 18. Upon the projecting ends of thebar 17 are swung two swinging trips, 23 and 2 1. The form of these tripsis illustrated by Fig. 8. They are made of wire, having a coil neartheir upper ends, 23 and 24., to form bearings for the reception of therod 17, and near their lower ends are formed oifsets, 23 and 2 1 toengage the elevated side of the rectangular frame 11, as hereinafterdescribed; and the lower ends, 23 and 24: of the swinging trips areopened outwardly to clear the rectangular frame 11. Upon the bar 17, tothe outside and to the inside of the trips 23 and 2 1, are keepers, 25and 25, to prevent movement of the swinging trips 23 and 24:longitudinally upon the bar 17, but which allow free rotary movement ofsaid swinging trips upon the bar 17. The lower ends of the swingingtrips 23 and 2% pass to the outside of the rectangular frame 11, andtheir upper ends pass through the loops or rings 21 and 22 of the levers21 and The machine stands upon a box 6, the top of which, 6, forms thefloor upon which the machine rests. Through the floor 6 are twoopenings, 6* and 6, through which coin passes into the box 6. Thehousing of the machine stands upon the box 6, as illustrated by thedotted lines 26. Through the top of the housing is made a slot, 27,through which coin is dropped into the machine.

Having fully described the construction of my machine, its operationwill be readily understood. When in its normal position, the parts ofthe machine will stand approximately in the position illustrated byFigs. 1, 2, and 3, and by the full lines of Figs. 4 and 5, or inapproximately the position illustrated by the dotted lines of Figs. 1and 5. The position of the parts as illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4shows them just after the cylinder has been turned upon its axis orpivoted point by the dropping of a coin into the machine and as the sandcommences to run from the elevated end of the hour-glass into the lowerend. The full lines of Fig. 5 illustrate the position of said partsafter the sand has all run into the depressed end of the hour-glass.Before turning to the positions illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and tothe positions illustrated by the full lines of Figs. 1 and 5, the partsstood in the position illustrated by the dotted lines of Figs. 1 and 5.Having completed one revolution of the machine to the positionillustrated by the full lines of Fig. 5, and approximately to theposition illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, a coin is dropped through theslot 27 and passes down to the left of the coin guide 19 and strikes thewing 19 which guides the coin to the cup 11 in the elevated end of thecylinder 11. Before dropping the coin into the ma chine, the sand is inthe depressed end of the hour-glass. The momentum of the coin and itsweight strikes the cup 11 of the cylinder 11 and tips said cylinder downfar enough to carry the weight 11 beyond a vertical line with the axis11-11", when the momentum of the coin having been spent the weight 11will help to carry the cylinder on in its partial revolution to theposition indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 4; and as the cylinderbecomes tipped to the direction opposite that illustrated by the fulllines, the coin will drop into the opening 6" and the sand in thehourglass will run from the elevated end of the hour-glass into thedepressed end of the hourglass, until the cylinder stands in theposition illustrated by the dotted lines of Fig. 5. As

the momentum and weight of the inserted coin carries the cylinder over,as described, the rectangular frame 11 tips to an angle opposite to thatillustrated so that what is now its lower side will pass above the hook23 of the swinging trip 23 so that said hook 23 will engage that side ofthe rectangular frame 11 and prevent the cylinder from rocking backbefore the sand runs from the elevated end to the depressed end of thehour-glass. As the coin guide 19 is swung from one side to the other, itstrikes the lever 21 or 22 and so swings in the trip 23 or 21 that itmay engage the rectangular frame 11 and throws out the trip 24 or 23 sothat the hook 21 or 25 will clear the rectangular frame 11 and allow thecylinder to turn; and as the sand runs from the elevated end to thedepressed end of the hour-glass, the rectangular frame is brought aroundso that it clears both trips. During the time that the sand is runningfrom the elevated to the depressed end of the hour-glass, and beforeassuming the position indicated by Fig. 5, or the same position at theopposite angle to that shown by the full lines of Fig. 5, the sides ofthe rectangular frame are in contact with the vertical rods9 and 9', asshown by Figs. 1 and 2, so that the electric circuit is openthrough'said vertical rods 9 and 9' and the rectangular frame 11. Whenthe sand runs into the depressed end of the cylinder, the frame is freedof the vertical rods 9 and 9 and the electrical circuit is broken. Itwill be seen that by the tipping ot' the trip cylinder by the droppingof a coin into the machine, the electrical circuit is opened and remainsopen one or more minutes, according to the arrangement of thehour-glass, as described.

By the arrangement illustrated in the drawings, the machine may sell toone dropping coin into it,- a current of electricity of a determinedduration; but this is but one use to which the invention can be applied,as it can be used for making connection with electrically operated toysto be attached to or placed upon, or used with the machine in anysuitable manner. By its use, a music box may be made to run for adetermined time by the use of an electric current which is opened by mymechanism; and various toys of known construction may be brought to viewor into operation by means of an electric current opened by my device.

The weight 11 a little more than balances the cylinder and hour-glass soas to hold the same at one angle of inclination after being operated bythe dropping of the coin into the machine. By adjusting the slides 14and 14 coins of various size may be used to operate the machine. Thelighter weight coins require the slides to be extended farther out thanthe heavier weight coins in order to get the advantage of the greaterleverage gained by lengthening the slides.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a coin controlled machine, a cylinder pivoted off its center incombination with an electric circuit, the cylinder being adapted to bepartially turned on its pivot by the striking of a coin upon thecylinder to open the electric circuit, substantially as described.

2. In a coin controlled machine, a cylinder pivoted off its center andhaving an adjustable balance weight, the cylinder being adapted to beturned a partial revolution by the striking of a coin upon one end ofthe cylinder, substantially as described.

3. In a coin controlled machine, the combination of a cylinder, anhour-glass inclosed within the cylinder, and an electric circuit, thecylinder being pivoted off its center and adapted to be turned through apartial revo lution by the striking of a coin upon one end of thecylinder, substantially as described.

4:. In a coin controlled machine, a cylinder, an hour glass inclosedwithin the cylinder and an adj ustable, balance weight, the cylinderbeing adapted to be turned through a partial revolution by the strikingof a coin upon one end of the cylinder, substantially as described.

5. In a coin controlled machine, a cylinder having cups formed at itsends, and an adjustable balance weight connected with the cylinder,substantially as described.

6. In a coin controlled machine, a cylinder having cups formed at itsends, an adjustable balance weight connected with the cylinder, and anhour-glass inclosed within the cylinder, substantially as described.

7. In a coin controlled machine, a cylinder,

'having cups formed at its ends, an adjustable balance weight attachedthereto, and adj ustable slides secured to the cylinder, substantiallyas described.

8. In a coin controlled machine, a cylinder having cups formed at itsends, an adjustable balance secured to the cylinder, adjustable slidesconnected with the cylinder, and an hour-glass inclosed within thecylinder, the cylinder being adapted to be turned through partialrevolution by the striking of a coin upon one end of the cylinder,substantially as described.

9. In a coin controlled machine, an electric circuit, a cylinder adaptedto be turned through a partial revolution by the striking of a coin uponone end of the cylinder, and connection between the cylinder and theelectric circuit whereby the circuit is opened and broken by the turningof the cylinder, substantially as described.

10. In a coin controlled machine, an electric circuit, two rods whichform apart of the electric circuit, a cylinder adapted to be turnedthrough a partial revolution by the striking of a coin upon one end ofthe cylinder, and a rectangular frame adapted to be turned by theturning of the cylinder whereby the turning of the cylinder opens andcloses the electric circuit by bringing the sides of said rectangularframe into contact with the rods forming a part of the electric circuit,substantially as described.

11. In a coin controlled machine, a combination of a chute, a coin guidewithin the chute, two swinging levers adapted to be operated by the coinguide, two swinging trips connected with the swinging levers, a cylinderadapted to be turned through a partial revolution by the striking of thecoin upon one of its ends, an electric circuit, two vertical rodsforming a part of the electrical circuit and a rectangular frame adaptedto be turned by the turning of the cylinder whereby the turning of thecylinder opens and closes the electric circuit, substantially asdescribed. In testimony whereofI affix my signature, in the presence oftwo witnesses, this 20th day of January, 1894.

ISAAC RICHARDSON. lrVitnesses:

E. E. OSBORNE, J. A. OSBORNE.

